The effect of poverty perception on quality of life and depression in elderly individuals: A mixed research

The idea that the poverty levels and poverty perceptions of the elderly significantly affect their depression levels and quality of life constituted the focus of this study. The gradual increase in the elderly population in our country and in the world causes population aging and demographic transformation. With the demographic transformation, there is an increase in the types of aging and the problems faced by elderly individuals are also increasing. This study examines the relationship between poverty levels and poverty perceptions of elderly individuals with sociodemographic variables and quality of life, the effect of poverty perception on quality of life, and the indirect effect of depression on this effect. The quantitative data collection process of the study, which was conducted with the mixed research method, included 417 elderly people and 21 elderly people participated in the qualitative data collection process. In the quantitative dimension of the study, personal information form, Poverty Perception Scale, Quality of Life in the Elderly Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale were used; in the qualitative dimension, a semi-structured interview form prepared by utilizing the Poverty Perception Scale was used. As a result, it was found that the perception of poverty has a negative and significant effect on quality of life and depression mediates this effect. In the qualitative findings obtained, it is seen that the elderly mostly united around the concept of "gratitude" and responded by comparing the past and the present.